Endless elevator or carrier apron



(No Model.)

I. M. MILLER.

' ENDLESS ELEVATOR 0R CARRIER APRON.

INVENTOR Patented Dec. 10, 1889.

N. PETERS. Phelolilhugnpher, Wnhinglcu, o. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IRA M. MILLER, ()F AKRON, OIIIO.

ENDLESS ELEVATOR OR CARRIER APRON.

- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 417,065, dated December 10, 1889.

Application filed January 24, 1887. Serial No. 225,32 (No model.)

companying drawings, making part of this specification.

My invention relates to the construction of elevator and carrier aprons, and more particularly to such as are used in raising the straw or butts from the platform-carriers to the binding mechanism of harvesters.

The object of my invention is to prevent these aprons from catching the straw or other material and carrying it backward to the starting-point on the return movement of the apron.

To the above purpose my invention consists in an elevator-apron composed of rubber or of fabric and rubber and having slats or bars inclosed in similar material and united to the apron by pressure, so as to become intimately joined to the surface of the apron, whereby all improper catching and holding of the material are avoided.

My invention further consists in certain peculiar and novel features of construction and arrangement, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in wl1ich- Figure 1 is a view partly in vertical longitudinal section and partly in side elevation of my improved elevator-apron applied to a harvester, only those parts of the latter immediatelyadjaeent to the apron being shown. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the apron and one of its rollers. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the apron and one of its ridges, the latter being shown partially in section. Fig. i is a vertical longitudinal section of a portion of the apron and one of its rollers on the line 4 4. of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a similar View of a portion of the apron on the line 5 5 of Fig. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the rib or ridge formed of the same material as the apron.

A serious defect has heretofore existed in the slatted or ribbed carrier or elevatoraprons for harvesters and for other purposes, owing to the liability of the straw or other material becoming caught between the ribs or slats and the surface of the belt, and thus carried backward to the starting-point by the return movement of the endless apron. This defect has been partially remedied by forming lips or flanges upon the surface of the apron and turning them up against the edges of the slats; but, as will be seen from the ensuing description, I have produced an elevator-apron the slats or ribs of which are so united to the surface of the belt that all catching of the material becomes impossible.

In the said drawings, A designates the apron or carrier, which is made of vulcanized rubber or other similar plastic material which becomes firm but flexible under the action of vulcanizing heat.

Instead of making the apron entirely of rubber, it may be made of canvas impregnated with the material and having a good surface coating of the same. This material,

which is well known, produces an apron of great tensile strength and durability and possesses the required amount of flexibility for an elevator-apron. At certain intervals upon the surface of this apron are formed a series of transverse ridges or elevations a, which are composed of pure vulcanized rubber or similar material, and the bases of which are formed with lateral extensions or flanges a, which impart additional stability to the ridges upon the apron. These ridges may also be formed of canvas combined with rubber or other similar material like the apron, as above described, and in either event a bar or red b, preferably of metal, is inclosed within the mass of each of the ridges a, as shown in the drawings, so as to stiffen and strengthen the same. These ridges are each unit-ed closely to the surface of the apron by cohesion, in order to insure a perfectly-tight union between the part-s.

In Figs. 1, 2, and l I have shown my improved belt applied to a harvester.

C It designate portions of the inclined elevator-frame. The aprons run over the upper and lower rollers c, which are mounted upon said frame.

D designates a portion of the frame of the platform-carrier.

The carrier-apron D is preferably similar in construction to the elevator-aprons A, and is provided with rods (1, inclosed in the ridges (1, like those of the said elevator-aprons. It will thus be seen that it is absolutely impossible for the straw or other material to be caught between the edges of the slats or bars and the apron, as heretofore, so that all liability of returning the material to the starting-point is entirely avoided. It will also be seen that the butter-aprons of harvesters and other parts of machinery similar to the parts above described may be constructed according to my invention and without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters'Patent, is-

1. The combination, with a belt or carrier, of tubular ribs of vulcanized material united thereto by cohesion, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination, with a belt or carrier,

of tubular ribs having double-flanged bases and united to the belt or carrier by cohesion, substantially as described.

A belt or carrier provided with tubular I ribs of vulcanized material, having the double-flanged bases and united to said belt by cohesion, in combination with rods or bars incascd in said ribs or ridges, as and for the purpose described.

4. An improved apron for elevators and carriers, composed of vulcanized material or its equivalent, having tubular ribs united by cohesion to its surface and rods or bars inclosed within said ribs or ridges, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. An improved apron for elevators and carriers, composed. of vulcanized material or its equivalent, having ribs or ridges united to its surface by cohesion and formed with lateral extensions or flanges upon both sides of their bases, said ridges having rods or bars embedded in their substance, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

I11 testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day of January, A. D. 1887.

IRA M. MILLER. \Yitnesses:

O. L. SADLER, W. K. MEANS. 

